Process for reducing the end of a tubular metallic body and device for carrying out this process



March 4, 1969 G. DOLV ECK 4 0,594 FOR REDUCING THE END OF A TUBULAR METALLIC PROCESS BODY AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THIS PROCESS Filed June 6, 1967 m9 9. A no \m I m n I m m United States Patent 8,189/66 US. Cl. 1131 4 Claims Int. Cl. 821d 51/44, 51/54; B21b 19/04 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Process for reducing the end of a tubular metallic body by applying the body by at least a part of the cross section of its end on a planar surface forming a matrix inclined relative to the axis of the body by an angle corresponding to that of the shrunken section desired, rotating the body and/or the surface and simultaneously axially moving the body and/or the surface parallel to the axis of the body in a direction tending to crush the body onto the surface. Application of this process to the fabrication of an aerosol bomb by giving to the reduced part the shape of a chimney or of a collar of a diameter less than that of the body and connected to it by a part of a generally truncated part and placing in the chimney a distribution valve, the other end of the body being closed after introducing the aerosol.

The manufacture of aerosol bombs in light metal, for example in aluminium, has often been carried out either by recessing on a cylindrical envelope a cover equipped with an outlet valve, or by making a tubular body having at one end a collar integral therewith and intended to receive the valve and the other end of which is closed by an inserted bottom.

These apparently very simple constructions have however certain disadvantages: in particular the insertion increases considerably manufacturing time and increases the danger of leakage which can occur with metallic bombs either because the fastening of the cover or of the bottom of the envelope can be defective either because it can become so during the transport and handling of the bomb.

Moreover, despite the very elaborate form of these bombs, their appearance has always been marred by the presence of the bead linking the cover and the envelope.

These various disadvantages have induced certain manufacturers to seek the possibility of obtaining metallic bombs made in one piece, that is to say bombs the reduced portion of which intended to carry the valve is integral with the rest of the envelope.

It has thus been possible to obtain such bombs by successive passage of a cylindrical envelope in the different matrix ensuring after each passage a greater reduction or swaging of the end of the envelope. Such a process naturally is long and requires numerous and different tools.

Additionally, the general appearance of the bombs thus obtained is aesthetically poor, mainly because the reduced part of the envelope, which generally has an ogive pointed shape, does not form a clear angle at its base relative to the cylindrical part but is connected to this part by an intermediate rounded surface.

The present invention therefore has for its object to A remedy all the disadvantages above indicated and to provide a practical process for reducing the extremity of a tubularly-shaped metallic body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for carrying out this process.

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Still another object of the invention is to provide a tubularly-shaped metallic body having a reduced extremlty and obtained by carrying out the process of the invention.

The invention will now be described in connection with the single figure of the accompanying drawing which shows a schematic longitudinal cross section of a preferred embodiment of the device for carrying out the disclosed process.

This device comprises a sleeve 1 sliding axially in a cylindrical support 2 secured on a die head 3 integral with arm 4 of a conventional device (not shown) positioned on the left of the figure and adapted to simultaneously exert on head 3 in the direction denoted by F and to rotate this head at a speed varying for example between 6,000 and 10,000 rotations per minute.

The rotational shaft of head 3 coincides with the axis of symmetry of sleeve 1.

At the start of putting the device in operation, sleeve 1 is placed at the extreme right hand position and covers totally the lateral surface of body 5.

In front of the opening of the sleeve, the device according to the invention has a matrix 6 framed by a disk pivotally mounted by means of bearings 7a and 7b, in a corresponding opening 8a in a support 8 angularly keyed by any suitable means. A ring 9 ensures the maintenance of matrix 6 in support 8.

The left side of the matrix extends in a plane forming an angle a with the rotational axis of the head and of envelope 5 corresponding to the inclination of the reduced part which one desires to make on this envelope. Additionally the pivoting axis of this matrix 6 cuts the pivoting axis of envelope 5 at the level of the plane containing the left face of the matrix.

The matrix is passed through by a passage constituted of two truncated recesses 9a and 9b mutually communicating by their smaller base and which are coaxial with the pivoting axis of the matrix.

The incline of the generatrix of each recess relative to this axis is equal to the complement of the previously mentioned angle a and the distance separating the axis of rotation of the sleeve of the generatrix of the surface defining recess 9a which is parallel at each instant to the axis of rotation of sleeve 1 is equal to the outer radius of chimney 5a which the device according to the invention forms at the extremity of the reduced part of envelope 5, as will be described later.

The support has a cylindrical passage 8a in which are mounted a ball bearing 10a and a bearing 1% spaced apart by a socket 10, and which are intended for the pivoting of a shaft 11 the left end of which bears a cylindrical reamer nose 12, which has a smaller diameter than that of the opening of chimney 5a to be shaped. The pivoting axis of shaft 11 and consequently that of nose 12 is parallel to the pivoting axis of envelope 5 and is vertically out of phase therewith by an amount equal to the distance between the internal radius intended for this chimney and the radius of the nose.

The described device functions as follows:

Once an envelope 5 having a cylindrical lateral surface is engaged in the sleeve 1, this sleeve is placed in contact by the lower part of its right edge with matrix 6 which is immobile but which can angularly pivot as described.

The sleeve and the envelope it contains are then rotated and there is then exerted on the sleeve a push (in the direction F tending to crush the envelope on its matrix.

The intensity of this push and the rotational speed of the sleeve are proportional to the quality of the metal forming the envelope to be reduced, of its thickness and of the incline which the cone of the extremity of the envelope obtained by reduction must have.

Starting at the time when envelope 5 enters into contact with matrix 6, the latter is also rotated, movement which is directly transmitted thereto by the envelope.

The joint action of rotation of the envelope and of its movement in the direction of the matrix results in a symmetrical embossing of the portion of the envelope in contact with the matrix toward the inside of this envelope.

This embossing results in a conical reduced area the generatrices of which form with the axis of rotation of the envelope an angle identical to the incline of the plane of matrix 6.

During this reducing operation, the sleeve remains constantly in contact with the matrix by its bevelled edge 1!) and ensures in this manner a perfect guiding and a lateral maintenance of the envelope to be shaped.

The presence of this sleeve continually touching the matrix ensures that the embossing begins from a clear circular edge separating very exactly the part of the truncated reduced area from the cylindrical part of the envelope. This embossing can also be made starting with a radius by giving the corresponding shape to the matrix.

When the reduced part of the envelope comes into contact with the nose 12, the latter provokes a new deformation of the envelope, in the horizontal direction, deformation which forms chimney 5a previously mentioned. Additionally, envelope 5 being maintained in constant position by sleeve 11, the nose the position of which is also fixed exactly calibrates the opening of the chimney.

If the distance separating nose 12' from the truncated edge of recess 9a of the matrix is less than the thickness of the cylindrical wall of the envelope 5, the formation of chimney 5a is accompanied by a laminating operation of the metal which results in a decrease in thickness of this metal. The use of the nose thus makes possible the omission of the screw cutting of the opening of the chimney which is necessary with conventional devices if it is desired that the mounting of the distributing nozzle on this chimney can be made correctly and in a perfectly watertight manner.

In a modification of the device which is not shown, the same can have additionally a tool for rolling chimney 5a permitting to form the beaded support for the distribution valve of the aerosol.

In another modification, also not shown, the device can have a milling tool associated with the matrix for equalizing the edge of the chimney.

Although the invention has only been described with reference to a device in which it is the support of the envelope which is rotated and moved toward the matrix by a suitable mechanism, it is evident that in another modification the support could be simply pivoted and the matrix would be rotated and moved toward the support. In this case sleeve 1 can be axially fixed or slidably arranged as described.

Such a sleeve can also be frictionally rotated on the matrix when the same is subjected to motive means. The reverse is also true.

In the example shown nose 12 is free to pivot angularly since shaft 11 which carries it is mounted in bearings a and 10b: in another modification, not shown, the nose could be rotated on its axis, in particular when it is on the matrix that depends the rotation of the envelope 5 to be reduced.

The processes and the device described thus make possible the reduction of a tubular body in a single operation and their possibilities are not limited by the cross section of this body, even if it is different from the circular cross section indicated in the accompanying drawing. Thus this cross section could be polygonal.

The angle according to which the reduced section is formed can be selected at will by varying in suitable fashion the speed of rotation to which is subjected the envelope, the axial force acting against this envelope,

the thickness of the envelope and the quality of the metal used.

Moreover it is evident that a single matrix can permit the reduction of a tubular body having various radial dimensions.

The processes and the device described moreover advantageously permit to reduce tubular bodies having a virgin lateral surface or one which on the contrary is covered by a protective coating, for example, a film of plastic material, or by an inserted decoration, without forming this coating or this decoration.

It will also be noted that the construction of the described device permits to obtain chimneys the height of which depends only on the extent of axial movement that the envelope can effect during the reducing operations.

What is claimed is:

1. Process for reducing the extremity of a tubular metallic body, comprising applying the body by at least a part of the edge of its extremity on a planar surface forming a matrix, inclining said matrix relative to the axis of said body by an angle corresponding to that of the section of the reduced area to be obtained, rotating said body and/or said surface and simultaneously axially moving said body and/or said surface parallel to said axis of said body in a direction tending to crush said body on said surface.

2. Process according to claim 1, comprising forming a tubular chimney having a diameter less than that of said body at the reduced extremity of said body as said extremity is being formed.

3. Process according to claim 2, wherein said chimney is formed by embossing.

4. Device for reducing the extremity of a tubular body comprising:

(a) A first support having a bevelled open end;

(b) A die head secured at the other end of said support;

(c) Means integral with said head for simultaneously rotating the same and exerting a pressure thereon;

(d) A sleeve for receiving said body and mounted axially and slidably on said support; said sleeve having a bevelled open end near said open end of said support;

(e) A second support having an opening therein facing said openings of said first support and said sleeve;

(f) A matrix pivoted in said opening of said second support in contact at one portion thereof with one of said bevelled edges of said sleeve;

(g) Communicating truncated recesses in said matrix coaxial with the pivoting'axis of said matrix, one of said recesses facing said open end of said sleeve and adapted to receive therein a part of the extremity of said body;

a remaining tool in said second support, said tool having a nose adapted to enter said body to shape the same;

(i) said sleeve under the urging of said head tending to push said body while the same is rotating into contact with said matrix thus crushing said body against said matrix thereby reducing the extremity of said body and causing it to contact said reaming tool so as to additionally deform the thus reduced extremity in the shape of a collar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,189,004 2/ 1940 Harwood 7296 3,011,539 12/1961 Henriokson 113120 FOREIGN PATENTS 480,826 2/1952 Canada.

RONALD D. GREFE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

